Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-26


Harpers War Vols.
However, the Confederates were over
whelmingly defeated, and the two days
following driven within their almost
impregnable defenses at Vicksburg, where,
forty five days later, more than thirty thou
sand surrendered as prisoners of war.
Nearly as many more had been lost dur
ing the campaign from Pemberton's army
in killed, wounded, prisoners and deser-
tions.
Shortly after Vicksburg surrendered the
Confederate forces, six or eight thousand
in number, at Port Hudson, three hundred
miles further south on the Mississippi
river, capitulated
The fall of Vicksburg with the conse-
quent control of the Mississippi river by
the Federals, greatly dIsheartened the
Confederate leaders and tended to con-
vince the masses in the South Of the hope
lessness of their cause.
To use an expression of the time, Grant
by taking Vicksburg had 'cut the Confed-
eracy in two''
Every soldier in the army of the Tennes.
see was specially proud of the great
achievement and long before the campaign
closed became very fond of Grant and
thoroughly impressed with the idea that
Toward the latter part of July the army
under Sherman returned from Jackson
and the writer's regiment with many other
troops went into camp two miles below
Vicksburg, Immediately on the river.
As most toilsome, dangerous and i'm
portant campaign had been entered upon
and conducted to an eminently successful
issue, it was only meet that all who had
engaged in it should have and enjoy n
well earned period of rest
Two miles below Vicksburg the bluffs re-
cede half mile from the river, and upon
the level place intervening the troops en-
camped. Meantime their duty was light, a
little drill in the morning and dress parade
at night.
About this time the enlistment OF colored
troops began in the Department of the
Tennessee, and the negro in the brand new
uniform of Union soldier was looked upon
with curious eyes.
A few of the white troops at first found
fault with the idea of utilizing the colored
man in this way, but after little all took
it as matter of course
While passing through Louisiana and
Mississippi quite a number of negroes had
followed the army. These at first were
shy, very respectful, and looked upon every
Union soldier as sort of savior-a being
whom the Lord had sent South to liberate
the poor down-trOdden slave. Following
the army, however, and observing the
many human traits of Mr.. Linkum's
Sojers" soon disabuSed Sambo's mind OF
any erroneous first impressions.
The writer's tentwa but few feet from
the river bank, but though there was over
head hot July sun there was at nearly
all times a delightful breeze.
A little to the north was Vicksburg, to
the northwest was the great bend in the
river that made the peninsula TO the west
ward, and across which, twenty miles dis
tant, the now victorious army three months
before had trudged through mud and
mire.
The writer in his leisure moments prose-
cuted his medical studies, but sometimes
lay idly upon his cot and looked out upon
the great river as it swept by ''unvexed"
to the sea.
Often great logs and large trees fioated
by in the free current, and now and then a
dead horse or mule and occasionally the
dead body of a man.
But so cheap had human life become as
the war progressed, that an unknown
body floating by excited but little COM
ment.
So the time went by not unpleasantly
but few were sick and, these were made
quite comfortable in the large hospital tent
on the river bank.
at the wharf in front OF Vicksburg were
always a number of steam boats, engaged
in receiving and discharging cargoes
About 10 a. m. one day, a terrific explo-
sion was heard in the direction of Vlcks-
burg, and looking toward the steamboat
landing, an immense column OF smoke and
debris OF all kinds was seen rising in the
air; in a moment this spread out and
looked precisely like huge mushroom.
1t was at once conjectured that steam
boat had blown up, and as detail of men
had been made from the regiment that
morning for duty at the wharf, the surgeon
at once called for the ambulance. and with
the writer, drove rapidly to the scene OF
the accident
A steamboat loaded with ammunition
had blown up. Part of the ammunition
consisted OF conclusion shell A case of
these 1t was supposed had fallen through
the gangway from the deck of the steamer
to the bottom of the hold, when au explo-
sion followed that Immediately involved
all the ammunition on the boat.
Upon reaching the wharf severa! dead
bodies were seen lying upon the pave
ment, and all around were pieces of the
boat and debris of all kinds that at the